Everest Base Camp, Chola Pass & Gokyo Lake Trek - 19 Days

The Gokyo Valley, with it’s turquoise lakes and ring of snow capped peaks is the most picturesque location in the Khumbu Region. You will also experience the amazing Everest Base Camp, Chola Pass and Gokyo Lake Trek and connect you get the best of both.

Everest Base Camp is the ultimate bucket list trekking location. This trek takes you into the lap of the Himalayas and the home of the highest mountain in the world Mt Everest at 8848m. Everest Base Camp is situated at an altitude of 5364m and brings you as close as you can get to the highest peak in the world (without a climbing permit). The viewpoint from Kala Patar 5545m allows a classic view of the Everest range including 4 of the worlds 800m+ peaks. This magnificent trek will bring you to the starting point of summit attempts and in spring you can even view the hustle and bustle of the climbing expeditions preparing for summit attempts.

A highlight of the trek is the climb of Gokyo Ri (5357m) which provides a wonderful early morning view of the surrounding ranges as well as of Mt Everest and 3 other 8000m plus peaks. It is said that the view from Gokyo Ri surpasses that of Kala Pattar (the highlight of the Everest Base Camp trek).

During this trek, you will enjoy crystal clear view of The Himalayan range. Cho Oyu takes center stage in the Gokyo Valley but you will see Mount Everest, AmaDablam, Lhotse, Nuptse, Makalu andPumoriamong others. The local people in this area are Sherpas, they are very welcoming and consider every tourist as their own guest. Guests are regarded as Gods according to Nepalese tradition and culture. You will be greeted with a soft voice saying “Namaste” accompanied by the joining of palms together. Save plenty of space on your memory card as you will witness countless photographic moments. You will be immersed in the fascinating Sherpa community, culture and traditional way of life.

You will be welcomed by a Great Nepal Representative at the airport and be transferred to your hotel. Your Great Nepal Representative will explain briefly about the travel itinerary. Overnight stay in hotel.

Today you will be going for sightseeing around the world heritage sites in the Kathmandu valley including, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Boudhanath Temple and Pashupatinath Temple. There will be a welcome dinner tonight where you will enjoy local cuisine and folk dance. Overnight stay at hotel.

On the third morning, you will board a flight to the Lukla Airport commonly known as Tenzing-Hillary Airport. After wonderful 30 minutes on one of the most scenic mountain flights, you will be at Lukla. After having breakfast, you begin the trek which takes around to Phakding village and spend the night there.

On the forth morning, the trail will take you along the Dudh Koshi River while ascending through Himalayan Pine and Deodar Cedar forests to the your destination, Namche Bazaar, a historic trading point for Nepalese and Tibetan traders and the tourist “hub” for Khumbu trekking. Along the way you will get your first glimpse of Mt Everest as well as other mountain peaks such as Kusum Kangru (6369m) and Mt Thamserku (6608m). You will see paintings of Buddhist deities at Benkar and a small gompa at Monjo as well as exploring the granite bluff carved with Tibetan Mantra’s en route to Jorsale. Overnight stay at a guesthouse in Namche.

Rest day in Namche for acclimatization
The fifth day of the trek will be spent in Namche itself for acclimatization purposes. As the altitude will now increase significantly, a day for acclimatization is paramount and strictly advisable for prospective trekkers. Options for today include a visit the Everest View Hotel which is situated at 3900m for panoramic views of the surrounding mountain range and our first proper view of Mt Everest. On our way we pass the Syangboche airstrip and there is an option to visit Khumjung Village which is the location of the Hilary School. Overnight stay at a guesthouse in Namche.

Today as we start trekking we are rewarded with an amazing view of Mt Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam and Thamserku. The trail follows the ridge and great views are with us for much of the way, we also have a great day for wildlife spotting with pheasant, musk deer and Himalayan Thar common on this section. It’s a fairly easy trek today with gradual uphill for most of the way until we descend at the end of the day to Phorse village where we stay overnight.

We start the day with an ascent through thick forest with hanging moss, waterfalls and bridges before reaching Dole. From Dole it’s a gradual climb along the scenic ridge where a beautiful vista of mountains unfolds. From here we get our first glimpses of Cho Oyu as we pass through beautiful hamlets along the hillside before arriving at Mahhermo where we stay overnight

Our day is fairly easy today with a gradual climb to Gokyo. The landscape here becomes quite barren and the valley narrows through a boulder field as it climbs up the terminal moraine where we reach the first lake. The second lake follows soon after and is larger with turquoise water sparkling in the sun. On reaching the third lake we are also at the small hamlet of Gokyo located beside the lake. Overnight in Gokyo.

The highlight of our day is today with an early morning climb of Gokyo Ri. From here we can get an amazing panoramic view of Mt Everest and also of all of the surrounding ranges and other 8000m + peaks. The weather is normally lovely and clear in the morning and the sunrise is incredible. After returning for breakfast we head out to the fifth lake to get another amazing view from a spot called the “Scoundrels viewpoint” and as good as the one from Gokyo Ri. Overnight in Gokyo

Today you will cross the Cho La (5,330m) pass where you will have eye pleasing views. Most, of the time Cho La Pass is covered with snow. On the way you will experience plenty of small snow covered glaciers. You will stay for the night at Zongla.

Early this morning you will climb Kala Patthar for a panoramic sunrise view of Mt Everest. This is the highlight of the trip and includes the classic view of the entire Everest Range and surrounding peaks including 4 of the world’s highest peaks all over 8000m. We then head down the valley to Dingboche overnight.

Today you will descend from Namche Bazar. Along the trail you cross the Cross the suspension bridges on Dudh Koshi River and its tributaries. Also you will get a chance to witness Sherpa culture and their impressive devotion to God.

You will board a flight back to Kathmandu while enjoying exhilarating mountain views for 30 minutes. The rest of the time in Kathmandu, you can spend time shopping or for buying souvenirs. Tonight there is a farewell dinner at a Nepalese restaurant with typical Nepalese cuisine and folk music to celebrate the successful completion of your trek. Overnight stay at a hotel in Kathmandu.

Sadly your most memorable journey ends today. A Great Nepal representative will escort you to the airport 3 hours before your scheduled flight. On your way home you have plenty of time to think about your recent adventure and to plan your next wonderful adventure in Nepal.

Inclusion

All transportation as per itinerary including airport transfers.

Accommodation whilst in Kathmandu (as requirements with various categories as stated) on BB basis.

All your standard Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the trek.

Farewell dinner with cultural program in Kathmandu.

Accommodation in the best available Lodges, Guesthouses during the trek (on twin share basis).

A local English speaking Government Guide during the trek.

The required number of staff and Porters to carry your luggage during the trek.

Trekking equipment’s i.e.- down Jacket, sleeping bag and duffel/kit bag and trekking pole (which needs to be returned after the trek.)

First aid medical kid.

Official expenses.

Exclusion

Lunch and dinner whilst in Kathmandu.

Snacks, soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, water and personal items.

Your travel insurance (compulsory). This must include helicopter rescue

International airfare and airport departure tax.

Nepal entry visa fee (US$ 30 per person) You can obtain a visa easily upon your arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport Kathmandu for either 30 days or 90 days from date of issue. You will need to have currency of either USD, AUD or EU in cash to pay for your visa.

Any extra expenses arising out of various/unforeseen situations like natural calamities, landslides, political disturbances, strikes, changes in Government regulations, etc that is beyond our control.

Wifi access fees in lodges while trekking.

Fees for recharging of mobile phones at lodges while trekking.

Lodge fees for hot showers, towels, laundry or other services.

Personal trekking gear.

Tips for trekking staff and driver. (which is not mandatory but highly appreciated).

Any others expenses which are not mentioned on Price Inclusion section.

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Acclimatization

To enable all expedition members to acclimatize well and hence maximize their chances of success, our expedition programs are prepared with sufficient time for acclimatization. Adaptation to the altitude takes time and there can be no short-cuts, even if supplementary oxygen is used in the final stages. The atmospheric pressure at the base camp is half of that at the sea level. A thorough program of acclimatization is built into the itinerary which consists of regulated height ascents, followed by descents and rests before the final ascent to the summit. This will prevent the climbers to get rid from altitude sickness.

Why Tipping is essential?

There are several reasons why you should tip in Nepal. It is quite the same as for what you tip in restaurants. They live in remote areas that are far from proper health and education facilities. Tipping them will additionally encourage them to manage good and nutritive food to eat, warm and comfortable clothes to wear or other necessary basic requirements to maintain their livelihood in a comfortable way. A small gesture of gratitude will do no harm to you but actually changes the lives of many people for a long time in many reasons. Our company has its fund collected from the some percentage of profit and sometimes from the tips of our guests which will directly invested for uplifting the economic condition of guides, porters and other staffs of office. It’s nothing more than the way to add smiles on those laborious faces.